GB2259570A

GB2259570A - Illuminated spirit level

Info

Publication number: GB2259570A
Application number: GB9218681A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Betts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-09-16
Filing date: 1992-09-03
Publication date: 1993-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2012-09-03
Also published as: GB9218681D0; GB9119761D0; GB2259570B

Abstract

A spirit level of the kind used by engineers and builders which can be used in poor natural light has a battery powered light source 18. The main body of the level is at least partly pervious to light and the spirit which partly fills the or each level tube 12, 14 contains a fluorescent dye. The light source is a torch unit pivotable for use in general lighting. The main body part of the level is provided with a magnetic strip 16. <IMAGE>

Description

Spirit level The invention relates to a spirit level of the kind which might be used by engineers and builders for example.

A particular problem on building sites, for example, is that electric power is not always available for the provision of electric lighting.

Consequently, there are times when, perhaps in the late afternoon, there is sufficient natural light for the building work to proceed but not enough light for a builder to refer to a conventional spirit level. Indeed, at any time of day there may be dark corners and shaded areas where the condition of the level tubes of a conventional spirit level cannot easily be distinguished.

Attempts have previously been made to provide an illuminated spirit level but these have not been entirely successful, in particular because of the complexity involved and consequent high cost.

According to the invention, there is provided a spirit level having at least one level tube containing a quantity of liquid being or containing a fluorescent substance and having also a battery powered light source, a main body part of the level being adapted to transmit light from said source onto said at least one tube. The main body part may be adapted to transmit light from the light source by being made of a material which is at least partly pervious to light. The dissipation of light from the light source, other than to the regions of the level tubes, may be limited by the application of a reflective coating to at least some portions of the body part.

The light source and the battery which powers it will preferably be located in a torch unit positionally adjustable, for example by being pivotally mounted, relative to the main body part.

The main body part of the level may comprise a magnetic element. The torch unit may be completely removable from the main body part to be usable as a hand torch when required. In this case the torch unit itself may comprise a magnetic element.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spirit level embodying the invention, and Figure 2 is a similar view with the level in a different condition.

Referring now to the drawings, the spirit level there illustrated includes a main body part 10 with two level tubes 12 and 14 set at right angles to each other for testing, respectively, horizontal and vertical surfaces. The main body part is provided with a magnetic strip 16 extending along its lower surface so that it can be removably attached to the surfaces of ferrous objects, for example to a metal stanchion of a building.

The main body part has been made as a pair of mouldings 11,11 clamped together back to back by screws 13.

At an end of the main body part remote from the level tube 14 a torch unit, generally indicated 18, is located. As shown, said torch unit is pivotally mounted on the main body part at 20. It includes a battery powered light bulb 22 which, when the torch unit is closed onto the main body part, as shown in Figure 1, can project light through said body part, both beneath and around the level tube 12 and towards the level tube 14. The torch unit is provided with an ON-OFF switch 24 and with batteries (not shown) contained within it.

The main body part 10 has been moulded in a synthetic plastics material (A.B.S.) which is at least partly pervious to light and the spirit which partly fills the level tubes 12 and 14 contains a fluorescent dye. This results in the illumination provided by the light bulb being enhanced so that, despite the fact that the light source may be very small and remote from the level tube 14, said level tube is adequately illuminated and its condition can be distinguished in poor natural light.

As shown in Figure 2, if the torch unit is pivoted to the position shown (and frictional resistance at the pivot point 20 is sufficient to hold it there) the torch unit can be used for general lighting. The main body part can be magnetically attached to a metal stanchion for example with the torch unit in this condition.

Thus there is provided an illuminated spirit level which is of simple construction and consequently modest cost. However, various modifications may be made. For example, the width of the torch unit could be made somewhat less than that of the main body part so that it was capable of being entered into a cavity in said body part through a slot in its top surface. In this way the torch unit could be made completely removable from the main body part, which might sometimes be useful. For example, the torch unit would then be usable in a smaller space. It may be advantageous in that case for the torch unit to be magnetic, that is to say to comprise a magnetic element. It could then be attached to any ferrous metal surface, for example to the body part of a motor vehicle which could be useful when changing a road wheel in the dark.

It will be understood that the forming of the main body part as a pair of mouldings secured together back to back enables the body part to be provided with a largely hollow interior space through which the light from the light source can pass unimpeded. However, the body part could be formed with light channels extending from the light source to the respective level tubes whether or not the said body part is formed as a pair of mouldings. Measures could be taken, for example as by the application of a reflective coating to at least some portion of said body part, to limit the dissipation of the light from the light source other than to the regions of the level tubes.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A spirit level having at least one level tube containing a quantity of liquid being or containing a fluorescent substance and having also a battery powered light source, a main body part of the level being adapted to transmit light from said source onto said at least one tube.

2. A spirit level according to claim 1, in which the main body part is adapted to transmit light from the light source by being made of a material which is at least partly pervious to light.

3. A spirit level according to either one of the preceding claims, in which the dissipation of light from the light source, other than to the regions of the level tubes, is limited by the application of a reflective coating to at least some portions of the body part.

4. A spirit level according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the light source and the battery which powers it are located in a torch unit positionally adjustable relative to the main body part.

5. A spirit level according to claim 4, in which the torch unit is pivotally mounted to be positionally adjustable relative to the main body part.

6. A spirit level according to claim 4, in which the torch unit is removable from the main body part.

7. A spirit level according to claim 6, in which the torch unit comprises a magnetic element.

8. A spirit level according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the main body part of the level comprises a magnetic element.

9. A spirit level constructed, arranged and adapted to be used substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.